First Solo Trekker Reaches South Pole

OSLO — Ending a seven-week solo ski trek, Norwegian Erling Kagge on Thursday became the first person to reach the South Pole alone and without assistance, his spokesman said.

Kagge, a 29-year-old lawyer, completed the 812-mile journey after 50 days of travel in temperatures that fell as low as minus 40, the spokesman, Hans Christian Erlandsen, said he was told by telephone.

Kagge started out from Berkner Island at the edge of Antarctica. He pulled a sled loaded with 265 pounds of supplies. The weight fell to about 95 pounds as he neared the pole, Erlandsen said.